We live in a world where we experience the loss of colors, or at least that’s what science says. Unlike 200 years ago, today many more things are white, black, or gray, condemning us to live in a palette of neutral colors. What has happened? Why have we lost the chromatic richness of our environment? Is it possible to recover it? In this post, we are going to explore the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, as well as some practical solutions to bring color back to the world. We invite you to join us on this journey through the rainbow.
Causes of color loss
According to experts, there are several factors that have contributed to the loss of colors in the world. Some of them are:
- Pollution: The increase in emissions of gases and particles has caused the air to become hazier and opaquer, making it difficult to see colors. Additionally, pollution affects the health of plants and animals, causing them to lose their vitality and luster.
- Urbanization: The growth of cities has led to the replacement of natural spaces with buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, which often have dull or monochromatic colors. So, the green of the forests, the blue of the sky and water, or the red of the flowers have been reduced or eliminated.
- Globalization: The expansion of trade and culture has led to a homogenization of products and fashion, which tends to follow similar aesthetic patterns. This results in a loss of diversity and originality in designs, materials, and colors that are unique to each place and culture.
- Technology: The increasingly frequent use of electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, or televisions has changed our way of perceiving the world. These devices emit artificial light that alters our vision and makes us more sensitive to brightness than to color. Furthermore, they isolate us from reality and immerse us in a virtual world that may be more appealing but less authentic.
The consequences of the loss of colors.
The loss of color in the world is not just an aesthetic problem, but it has psychological, social, and environmental implications. Some of them are:
- Depression: Colors influence our mood and emotions. Warm colors like red, orange, or yellow convey energy, joy, and optimism, while cool colors like blue, green, or purple provide calmness, serenity, and creativity. The absence of color can lead to sadness, apathy, and discouragement.
- The Lack of Identity: Colors are a way to express our personality, our likes, and our preferences. They are also a symbol of our belonging to a group, a community, or a culture. The loss of color can make us feel more uniform, more anonymous, and less unique.
- Biodiversity Loss: Colors are a manifestation of the variety and richness of life on the planet. Each species has its own colors, which serve them to adapt to the environment, communicate with other individuals, or attract their mates. The loss of color can mean the extinction or threat of many species, which affects the ecological balance and the environmental services they provide us.
The solutions to recover the color.
Despite the bleak outlook we’ve described, not all is lost. There are many actions we can take to restore the world’s vibrancy and enjoy its benefits. Some of them include:
- Promoción de la Creatividad y la Diversidad: desde Tcolors, la pintura que deja huella, apoyamos y fomentamos la creatividad y la diversidad en la moda con nuestras Tcolors textile paints, but also the design with them. Prepared tempera paint, finger paint, or Tcolors acrylic paint, crafts, and DIY with our chalk paint or relief paint. All of this can lead to a greater variety of colors in our everyday life.
- Reducing Pollution: We can adopt more sustainable habits such as using public transportation or bicycles instead of cars, recycling waste, or saving energy. This way, we will contribute to improving the quality of the air, water, and soil, and to protecting the health of living beings.
- Promoting urban greenery: We can participate in initiatives such as planting trees, creating urban gardens, or installing vertical gardens. This way, we will create green spaces that provide us with oxygen, freshness, and beauty, and that promote biodiversity and community interaction.
- Supporting local and fair trade: We can consume local, artisanal, and ecological products that respect the environment and the traditions of each place. In doing so, we will support the social and solidarity economy, and we will appreciate the diversity and originality of products and cultures.
- Using technology in moderation: We can limit the time we spend on electronic devices and use it to engage in other healthier and more enriching activities. This way, we will improve our vision, concentration, and creativity, and connect more with ourselves and with others.
In summary, although it may seem that the world has lost its colors compared to past times, this is a perception influenced by cultural and technological evolution. We can work to restore the richness of colors in our lives through environmental awareness, promoting creativity, and exploring nature, among other approaches. The world is still full of vibrant colors if we are willing to look beyond the surface. Are you ready to add some “Tcolors” to your life?
